The Portrayal of Women in Reality TV Shows

7/24/2019 The Portrayal of Women in Reality TV Shows

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NORDIANA MAT YAACOBEDUC 318

Introduction

The production of realit tele!i"ion #T$% i" &ro'in& continuou"l "ince Candid

Camera#1()8 a" cited in *ol+e" , -er+n. /00)% 'a" fir"t produced in 1()8 The

fact that realit T$ i" cheaper to produce than dra+a" and co+edie" i" &ood ne'" to

producer" Thi" happen" partl 2ecau"e there are no epen"i!e profe""ional "tar"

"alarie" to 2e paid durin& the production #Bro'n. /004% The &ro'in& popularit of

realit T$ a+on& !ie'er" ha" re"ulted to increa"in& co+petition a+on& tele!i"ion

net'or5" To fulfil !ie'er"6 de+and" a" 'ell a" increa"e net'or5"6 profit. nu+erou"

tpe" of realit "ho'" are produced "uch a" datin&. la' enforce+ent. +a5eo!er.

docu+entar "tle. talent "earche". "poof" and realit &a+e "ho'

The un"cripted "cene" of realit "ho'" are "o+eti+e" "cene" that are partial

truth or ta5en out of contet due to editin& proce""e" Editin& proce""e" "tart fro+

the 2e&innin& until the la"t +inute 2efore the"e "ho'" are aired and the i+a&e" that

appear on T$ are "olel the deci"ion" of the editor" and producer" The participant"

in realit "ho'" ha!e no control o!er ho' the are 2ein& portraed and a lot of the+

are 'o+en 'ho choo"e to 2e there The fe+ale participant" in realit "ho'" are

co++onl "u27ected to ne&ati!e 7ud&e+ent" 2 the !ie'er" a" fa+e "ee5er" and&old di&&er" o+e of the participant"6 2eha!iour" or lan&ua&e u"e +i&ht not reflect

'ho the are Thi" i" further "upported 2 Bro'n #/004% 'ho "aid that "he 'a"

fre9uentl "urpri"ed to "ee ho' the people 'ho+ "he had 5no'n on "et had 2een

portraed on T$ a" the lac5ed colour and depth

Thi" lead" to the 9ue"tion of 'hat i" real in realit "ho'" Althou&h teena&e

!ie'er" are a'are that thin&" are not a" the "ee+ed. the 2eco+e a!id fan" of thi"

&enre e"peciall oun& &irl" o+e of the+ e!en &o to the audition" to 2e the

participant" of the"e "ho'" Accordin& to *ilt2rand #/00)%. one of the rea"on" 'h

realit "ho'" perfor+ 'ell 'ith oun& !ie'er" i" 2ecau"e the pre"ent i""ue" of

relation"hip and re7ection 'hich re"onate 'ith the+ :i5e +o"t !ie'er". the"e

teena&er" do not 'atch T$ throu&h a critical ee and the are 2ein& epo"ed to

2ia"ed &ender portraal e"peciall to'ard" the fe+ale "e

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The +edia reflect" the nor+" and conte+porar culture in our "ociet and

accordin& to in&hal and Ro&er" #1(((. a" cited in ;ard , *arri"on%.


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realit "ho'" he ea+ined +ultiple epi"ode" of "e!eral realit "ho'". the "ho'"6

related chat roo+" and 2oth official and unofficial 'e2"ite" of the "ho'" ;hile

ac5no'le&in& that the "a+plin& i" not ""te+atic nor can it 2e con"idered a for+al

re"earch. Bro'n #/004% pre"ented "i&nificant the+e" in realit "ho' he clai+ed

that "tron& 'o+en are con"idered 2itche". older 'o+en and threacher 'o+en are

+uch +ore "ucce""ful. 'o+en of colour" are 2etter repre"ented on non?realit

"ho'" and 'o+en 'ill 2e &irl" 'hen dealin& 'ith conflict" # Bro'n. /004%

A re"earch pro7ect 2 Yea"+in and hafin #/00(% i" "o+e'hat uni9ue

co+pared to the other three "tudie" +entioned a2o!e in ter+" of the "ettin& and data

collection Yea"+in and hafin #/00(% loo5ed at the i""ue" related to the treat+ent of

'o+en in talent "earche" realit "ho'" in India not the UA The data collected for

thi" "tud con"i"t" of t'o "et" The fir"t data i" the anal"i" of the 7ud&e" co++ent"

on conte"tant"6 perfor+ance and the "econd data i" the anal"i" of a "ur!e

co+pleted 2 t'ent Acce"" Acade+ "tudent" enerall. the 7ud&e" are found to

u"e de&rator 'ord" to'ard" the &irl" li5e "tupid. aro&ant and 2itch #Yea"+in ,

hafin. /00(% The "ur!e re!ealed that the pu2lic 2elie!e that the &irl" in Indian

realit "ho'" are eloited to increa"e the popularit of the "ho' in"tead of helpin&

the+ to fulfill their drea+"

Martine>?hephard #/00@%. :upica #/00@%. Bro'n #/004% and Yea"+in and

hafin #/00(% loo5ed at realit "ho'" of "i+ilar "u2&enre realit "ho'" in their

re"earche" The "ho'" are al"o not do+inated 2 an &ender On the contrar. thi"

re"earch in!ol!e" 'o+en do+inated and !ariou" "u2&enre" realit "ho'" Thu". thi"

re"earch i" needed to find out 'hether the findin&" of other re"earche" are

con"i"tent or not 'ith realit of different "u2&enre" It al"o di"cu""e" educational

i+plication" unli5e other re"earche" that &i!e &eneral i+plication"

Research Design

The data collected for thi" re"earch con"i"t of four "u2&enre" realit "ho'"

Different "u2&enre" allo' for a !ariet of data collection Three epi"ode" are cho"en

for each "ho' and the are 'atched throu&h online "trea+in& The are Beauty andthe Geek Australia Season 1 #epi"ode 1. / and 3%. The Bachelor Season 15 #epi"ode

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3. ) and 1/%. The Real Housewives of ew !ersey Season "#epi"ode 3. 4 and (%

and #ife Swap $%S%A Season & #epi"ode 11. 13 and 1)%% All of the"e "ho'" are

i+ported arental uide Reco++ended #R% cla""ified "ho'" and all epi"ode" are

rando+l "elected #ife Swap $%S%A Season & i" currentl on air e!er rida on

ri+e fro+ (34?1034 p+ Ecept for The Bachelor Season 15. the other t'o "ho'"

'ere aired on Ne' Fealand T$ E!en thou&h The Bachelor Season 15 i" not aired in

Ne' Fealand. there had 2een pre!iou" "ea"on" aired

Beauty and the Geek Australia Season 1 i" a realit?&a+e "ho' in'hich ei&ht

2eautiful 'o+en and ei&ht acco+pli"hed +en are "elected and paired to&ether to &o

throu&h different challen&e" e!er 'ee5 one for the 2eautie" and one for the &ee5"

Includin& their couple". the 2eaut and the &ee5 'ho 'in the challen&e" are "afe

fro+ elli+ination The al"o ha!e to na+e 'hich pair to 2e "ent to the eli+ination

roo+ 'herein the pair" co+pete to "ta on the "ho'

The Bachelor Season 15 i" a datin& "ho' 'ith one 2achelor &et" to choo"e

hi" future 'ife a+on& /4 'o+en After the"e 'o+en ha!e 2een on a &roup or

indi!idual date 'ith the 2achelor. the 2achelor +u"t choo"e a "pecific nu+2er of

'o+en to "ta on the "ho' once a 'ee5 The 'o+en 'ho do not recei!e a ro"e

fro+ the 2achelor durin& the ro"e cere+on 'ill 2e eli+inated fro+ the "ho' On the

other hand.The Real Housewives of ew !ersey Season " i" a docu+entar "tle

realit "ho' The ca+era operator" follo' a &roup of hou"e'i!e" on a dail 2a"i"

and record the e!ent" and conflict" around the+

:a"t 2ut not lea"t i" #ife Swap $%S%A Season & 'hich i" a life"tle chan&e

realit "ho' 'ith an o27ecti!e to epo"e fa+ilie" to !ariou" per"pecti!e" in li!e" 2

"'appin& the 'i!e" for t'o 'ee5" Nor+all t'o etre+el different fa+ilie" are

cho"en for each epi"ode Durin& the fir"t 'ee5 of the "'ap. the 'i!e" ha!e to follo'

the rule" and the runnin& of the "'ap fa+il and durin& the "econd 'ee5. the &et to

2e in char&e

Di"cour"e anal"i" ha" 2een applied in thi" "tud 2 identifin& the do+inant

di"cour"e" a"ociated 'ith 'o+en on realit "ho'" The notion of


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accepted a""ociation in 'a" of u"in& lan&ua&e. other "+2olic epre""ion". and

Gartifact"6. of thin5in&. feelin&. 2elie!in&. !aluin& and actin& that can 2e u"ed to

identif one"elf a" a +e+2er of a "ociall +eanin&ful &roup

A fe' focu" 9ue"tion" are de!eloped to anal"e the data The 9ue"tion" are

I" there a


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hi+"elf to the fe+ale participant". Corin "aid that he ne!er "a' "o +uch peroide in

hi" life de"pite the fact that he i" a che+i"t Durin& the de2ate 2et'een ent and

hanna in epi"ode thirteen of #ife Swap on ho' the children "hould "pend their

ti+e. ent "aid to hanna that "he doe" not ha!e the intellectual a2ilit to de2ate hi+

a" "he 5eep" "tre""in& the fact that the are 7u"t children and the children "hould

ha!e fun erhap" the"e re+ar5" 'ill not appear on T$ "hould it 2e u"ed 2 a

'o+an 'hen tal5in& to a +an

The discourses

Thi" "ection di"cu""e" the findin&" in ter+" of the identified do+inant di"cour"e"

a""ociated 'ith 'o+en in realit "ho'" anal"ed

Women as commodities

The 2od of fe+ale participant" and ho' the are dre""ed in the realit "ho'"

i" e+pha"i"ed re&ardle"" of the re"pon"e the recei!ed fro+ +ale participant" The

oun& 'o+en o2"er!ed in Beauty and the Geek Australia and The Bachelor dre""

pro!ocati!el &i!in& !ie'er" the i+pre""ion that the are the "ho'"6 co++oditie"

eploited to increa"e popularit and ratin&" ;hether the are 'earin& dre""e" or

7ean" 'ith top". +o"t of the ti+e. their clothe" are ti&ht?fittin& and re!ealin& *i&h

heel" and hea! +a5e?up are al"o put on A fe' acti!itie" are planned to &et the+ to

'ear 2i5ini"

In epi"ode t'o of Beauty and the Geek'the +ale participant" ha!e to learn the

art of +a""a&e and each +an &et" to +a""a&e e!er fe+ale participant" Durin& the

+a""a&e the fe+ale participant" ha!e to 'ear 2i5ini" re!ealin& their ideal 2odie"

One of the +ale participant". Nathan co++ented that it i" not 'hat he "ee" e!erda

2ut he doe" not +ind "eein& it e!er da *ere the 2odie" of fe+ale participant" are

treated a" o27ect" of +ale"6 "eual de"ire In all three epi"ode" of The Bachelor'the

'o+en ha!e to 'ear e!enin& dre""e". +a5e?up and hi&h heel" durin& the ro"e

cere+on durin& 'hich the are po"itioned to 'ait for the 2achelor to offer a ro"e to

the+ It i" ironic to "ee the+ 'ell dre""ed "ince nor+all people 'ill dre"" "+artl for

happ occa"ion" The ro"e cere+on i" far fro+ happ It i" a "tre""ful cere+on to

all the fe+ale participant"

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On the other hand. 'o+en dre"" code can create di"pute in The Real

Housewives of ew !ersey and #ife Swap% Danielle +a5e" an unrea"ona2le

de+and on her dau&hter. Chri"tine 2 a"5in& her to "tart 'earin& ei&ht inche" hi&h

heel" in epi"ode three of The Real Housewives of ew !ersey% Chri"tine feel"

di""ati"fied 'ith her +other and clearl "tate" that "he 'ill not do it *er

di""ati"faction &ro'" 'hen her +other 5eep" na&&in& at her 'hen "he practice" for

cat'al5 'ith the in"tructor inall "he a"5" her in"tructor to "end her +other out of

the roo+ Thi" di"pute i" real to the+ ho'e!er a2"urd it i" for "o+e people to thin5

that hi&h heel" can cau"e "uch di"pute The producer" 'ere pro2a2l plea"ed 'ith

thi" turn of e!ent After all. 'hat could 2e +ore dra+atic than a 9uarrel 2et'een

+other and dau&hterH

In epi"ode fourteen of #ife Swap featurin& the con"er!ati!e C2oran fa+il

and "uperheroe" couple O'en?:adino. hanti O'en6" "uperhero co"tu+e i"

criti9ued 2 her "'ap hu"2and 2ecau"e it i" too re!ealin& he i" a"5ed to chan&e

into 'hat he con"idered a proper outfit 'hich later create" a 9uarrel 2et'een the t'o

'here the a&ree to di"a&ree Thi" deli2erate pic5 of etre+el different per"onalitie"

2 the producer" i" to create real "ta5e" 2et'een participant" in the "ho' that can

+a5e it +ore intere"tin& to the !ie'er" #Aleander. /00)%

Women as shallow individuals

The 'o+en in Beauty and the Geeks and The Real Housewives of ew

!ersey are often depicted a" "hallo' +ainl concernin& 'ith their ph"ical

appearance in"tead of other thin&" In Beauty and the Geeks' the fe+ale participant"

are depicted a" lac5in& lan&ua&e proficienc and &eneral 5no'led&e or ea+ple. in

the fir"t epi"ode 'hen -enna appear" in front of the ca+era for her inter!ie'. "he

de"cri2e" the other couple" a" her


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Women as materialistic individuals

In the fir"t epi"ode of Beauty and the Geek 'hen the 'ere told that the

re'ard for the "ho' i" K10000000. Eli"e "aid that "he could 2u fort pair" of

Chri"tian :ou2outin "hoe" if "he 'in" ;hat +a5e" thi" intere"tin& i" that "he did not

thin5 of anthin& el"e on ho' to "pend the +one li5e pur"uin& her "tudie". 2uin&

life in"urance or "tartin& a fund In epi"ode three of The Real Housewives of ew

!ersey' Tere"a thou&ht that &i!in& e!erthin& that her child 'ant" i" the 'a to "ho'

her lo!e he "pend" K1(@480 2uin& clothe" and acce""orie" for ia6" 2irthda

part he 7o5e" 'ith ia "ain& that "he i" the one 'ho "hould 2e 'or5in& to 2u all

the clothe" and "he 7u"t lau&h" 'hen the &irl replie" that "he i" too prett to 'or5

Women as emotional individuals

Crin& "cene" are pre"ent in all realit "ho'" anal"ed The"e "cene" pre"ent

'o+en a" e+otionall 'ea5 It "tren&then" the lon& ei"tin& un'ritten "ocial rule that

'o+en are e+otional and it i" accepta2le for the+ to cr 2ecau"e it i" 'ho the are

*o'e!er it i" not accepta2le of the oppo"ite "e. at lea"t not in pu2lic or in thi" ca"e

on national T$ or "ho'" 'ith eli+ination li5e Beauty and the Geek and The

Bachelor' all the eli+inated 'o+en cr durin& their final on?ca+era inter!ie'" In The

Real Housewives of ew !ersey' Caroline crie" 'hen "he told her hu"2and that "he

feel" lonel 'ith the children &ro'in& up and he i" al'a" 'or5in& Al"o in #ife

Swap' the 'i!e" often cr 'hene!er the 9uarrel 'ith their "'ap hu"2and or if thin&"

did not &o the 'a the are accu"to+ed to

Women as spiteful individuals

The &roup of 'o+en in The Real Housewives of ew !ersey are depicted a"

"piteful to'ard" other people and each other Inepi"ode 4 Danielle purpo"el 2rin&"

unin!ited &ue"t" to a charit e!ent ;hen "he enter" the hall. "he found out that

there i" no "pecial ta2le pro!ided for her"elf and her friend" he pla" !icti+ tellin&

her friend" that the purpo"el did thi" to her 2 lea!in& out the fact that "he did note!en infor+ the +ana&e+ent tea+ that "he 'ill 2rin& other people to the e!ent The

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'ere furiou" and left e!en after the +ana&e+ent tea+ had prepared a ta2le for the+

In the "a+e epi"ode. in"en"iti!e and "piteful Tere"a appear" 'ith Dina critici>in&

Danielle 2 "ain& that "he i" a tet2oo5 "ociopath and a pro"titution 'hore The"e

2eha!iour" of deli2eratel +a5in& other people "ee+ 2ad and "ain& 'hate!er one

'i"h in pu2lic i" definitel not &ood ea+ple" to oun& !ie'er"

Women as the ultimate cooks, carers and cleaners

The patriarchal &ender role" are "pecific to the +arried 'o+en in The Real

Housewives of ew !ersey and #ife Swap% In order to e+2race he&e+onic

+a"culinit #Mac an haill. /000 a" cited in : +ith. per"onal co++unicattion.

epte+2er /0. /011%. the +ale character" "u27ected the fe+ale character" to

con"er!ati!e &ender role" a" the ulti+ate coo5". carer" and cleaner" Tere"a in

epi"ode three of The Real Housewives of ew !ersey co+plain" that her hu"2and

'ant" dinner to 2e read on the ta2le at 430 p+ e!en thou&h he al'a" arri!e"

ho+e at 8/0 p+ :ater "he ad+it" that "he and -oe li!e an old fa"hioned life 2ut in

a cute 'a. a" if "he i" con"olin& her"elf

The traditional &ender role" are al"o e!ident in all the three epi"ode" of #ife

Swap 2ut it i" +o"t pro+inent in epi"ode ele!en featurin& te'art and Cathrea

fa+ilie" *arr Cathrea &i!e" no attention hi" "on 2ecau"e he "pend" +o"t of hi"

ti+e trainin& hi" profe""ional &olfer dau&hter *i" 'ife. Ralene ha" to ta5e "i 7o2"

to "upport the fa+il e"peciall her dau&hter6" career On top of that. "he al"o ha" to

do all the chore" at ho+e 'hile *arr "it" on the couch 'atchin& T$ ;hen *arr

'a" a"5ed to co++ent a2out thi". he "aid that cleanin& i" &ender related and 'o+en

are 2etter cleaner". coo5" and carer" *e al"o rea"on" 'h he "hould do the chore"

2ecau"e it i" alread 2ein& done 2 "o+eone el"e *arr i" forced to chan&e hi" 2ad

ha2it durin& the "'ap ;hen the cre' co+e" 2ac5 to "ee 'hether the ha!e

chan&ed after the eperience. the reported that *arr did "pend ti+e 'ith hi" "on

2ut 'hether he help" hi" 'ife 'ith the chore" &oe" unreported It i" o2!iou" that thi"

traditional &ender role i""ue i" treated a" "econdar in thi" "ho' The fact that

Ralene did not fi&ht 'hen "he i" 2ein& oppre""ed 2 her hu"2and i" reall

trou2le"o+e

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Implications for Education

Ba"ed on the findin&" of thi" re"earch it i" alar+in& to thin5 of 'hat are the

effect" it ha" on the oun&er &eneration" In thi" t'ent fir"t centur. the +edia pla"

an i+portant part in our li!e" It i" undenia2le that the +edia i" one of the "ource"

that ha" the po'er to influence our oun& &irl"6 2elief" and attitude" to'ard" 2od

i+a&e. "eual relation"hip" and &ender role

Mo"t of the fe+ale character" in Beauty and the Geek and The Bachelorare

thin and teena&er" +i&ht thin5 that 2ein& thin i" health 'hich i" not nece""aril the

ca"e tudie" indicate that &reater +edia u"e or &reater epo"ure to "pecific &enre"

"uch a" fa"hion +a&a>ine" i" a""ociated 'ith "tron&er a'arene"" and endor"e+entof the thin ideal" #Bor>e5o'"5i et al. /000 a" cited in ;ard , *arri"on. /004% ;ith a

+an datin& and +a5in& ph"ical contact 'ith t'ent fi!e 'o+en throu&hout The

Bachelor' oun& !ie'er" ha!e the potential to de!elop ne&ati!e i+pre""ion to'ard"

relation"hip" Thi" i" further "upported 2 *afer5a+p #1((( a" cited in ;ard ,

*arri"on. /004% 'ho found out that &reater epo"ure to and in!ol!e+ent 'ith

"euall oriented &enre i" a""ociated 'ith "tron&er endor"e+ent of ne&ati!e or

d"functional 2elief" a2out relation"hip" Accordin& to otter and Chan& #1((( a"cited in ;ard , *arri"on. /004%. &reater epo"ure to "pecific &enre i" a""ociated 'ith

!ie'er"6 a""u+ption" a2out the di"tri2ution of real?'orld role" Thu". if oun& !ie'er"

are con"i"tentl epo"ed to patriarchal &ender role" a" in The Real Housewives of

ew !ersey and#ife Swap. the +i&ht a""u+e that cleaner". carer" and coo5" are

role" eclu"i!e to 'o+en

Due to the ne&ati!e i+pact" the +edia ha" on oun& !ie'er". perhap" it i"

ti+e to introduce Media tudie" to the pri+ar "chool curriculu+ to epo"e children

a2out the +edia and to 2e +edia 'i"e at an earl a&e Currentl. Media tudie" in

Ne' Fealand Education i" onl a!aila2le in "econdar "chool" Ne' Fealand Mini"tr

of Education "ee+" to a&ree 'ith -o'ell #/00@ a" cited in Ne' Fealand Mini"tr of

Education. /011% 'ho "aid that a childL" a2ilit to e!aluate tele!i"ion pro&ra++e"

criticall and under"tand ne' technolo&ie" 'ill 2eco+e a" i+portant a" Mathe+atic"

and cience

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Teacher" could facilitate all "tudent" re&ardle"" of &ender in de!elopin& critical

+edia literac 2 'atchin& and criti9uin& "o+e realit "ho'" in the cla""roo+ Thi" i"

po""i2le to 2e conducted in pri+ar "chool" 2ecau"e tet i" an entit that carrie"

+eanin&" and not ne"e""aril 'ritten +aterial" # andretto. per"onal

co++unication. -ul 1). /011% Thu" con!er"ation". picture". po"ter".

ad!erti"e+ent". fil+" and e!en realit "ho'" can al"o 2e con"idered a" tet"

Teacher could follo' the "a+e &uideline of critical literac "u&&e"ted 2 andretto.

Til"on. *ill. Upton. *o'land and Rae ar5er #/00@% Accordin& to andretto et al

#/00@%. critical literac cla""roo+ practice "hould in!ol!e" "upportin& "tudent" to

2eco+e a'are that

tet" are "ocial con"truction"

tet" are not neutral

author" dra' upon particular di"cour"e" #often +a7orit di"cour"e"% and

a""u+e that reader" 'ill 2e a2le to dra' upon the+ a" 'ell

author" +a5e certain con"ciou" and uncon"ciou" choice" 'hen con"tructin&

tet". 'hich +ean" that all tet" ha!e &ap" or "ilence" and particular

repre"entation" 'ithin the+ and

tet" then ha!e con"e9uence" for ho' 'e +a5e "en"e of our"el!e". other".

and the 'orld

:a"tl the Mini"tr of Education could al"o e"ta2li"h an educational T$ or

appl for partner"hip 'ith ei"tin& educational T$ channel li5e idFone/)

idFone/) i" currentl acce""i2le 'ith a "u2"cription of 5 T$ a pre?pa tele!i"ion

2roadca"tin& "er!ice in Ne' Fealand Thi" channel could 2e +ade free to !ie'er" if

a partner"hip i" to happen The Mini"tr of Education could al"o "uper!i"e and

"u&&e"t 2eneficial educational T$ pro&ra++e" to thi" channel Additionall. 2oth

part could cooperate to create a pro&ra++e to teach +edia literac to oun&

!ie'er" Thi" could pre!ent the +ain"trea+ +edia fro+ pro!idin& !ie'er" 'ith

"electi!e !er"ion" of the 'orld rather than direct acce"" to it li5e 'hat Buc5in&ha+

#/003% clai+ed

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http://www.google.co.nz/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22David+Buckingham%22http://www.google.co.nz/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22David+Buckingham%22


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Conclusion

In conclu"ion. "ei"+ i" "till ei"t in the +edia a" pa"t "tudie" ha" pro!en

Re&ardle"" of the "u2&enre. realit "ho'" are not "pared fro+ portrain& 'o+en in a

2ia"ed 'a The "ho'" that ha!e 2een anal"ed are Beauty and the Geek Australia

Season 1' The Bachelor Season 15' The Real Housewives of ew !ersey Season "

and #ife Swap $%S%A Season &% Three epi"ode" fro+ each "ho' are anal"ed u"in&

di"cour"e anal"i" All are a for+ of heteronor+ati!it #;arner. 1((3% nor+ali"in& the

hetero"eual relation"hip" None of ho+o"eual relation"hip" are portraed The

lan&ua&e u"ed 2 the +ale character" to de"cri2e the fe+ale character" i"

"tereotpical and "o+eti+e" de&radin&The do+inant di"cour"e" a""ociated 'o+en

in the "elected realit "ho'" are 'o+en a" co++oditie". 'o+en a" "hallo'.e+otional. +ateriali"tic and "piteful indi!idual" a" 'ell a" 'o+en a" the ulti+ate

coo5". carer" and cleaner"

;e need a 'ider ran&e of di"cour"e" for 'o+en in the +edia e"peciall in

realit T$ a" there are different 5ind" of 'o+en in our "ociet al2eit the +edia

choo"e not to portra the+ Me+2er" of the "ociet "hould al"o 2ear in +ind that thi"

i""ue i" e!erone6" concern not 7u"t the fe+ale population Thi" "tud i" notconclu"i!e and "'eepin& &enerali"ation cannot 2e +ade 2ecau"e there are a !ariet

of realit "ho'" and &enre" produced fro+ ti+e to ti+e to 2e con"idered Addin& to it

i" the nature of thi" re"earch and ti+e con"traint Thi" re"earch i" done to co+plete

the re9uire+ent of EDUC 318 ender I""ue" in Education 'hich i" offered to 300?

le!el" Uni!er"it of Ota&o "tudent" in "e+e"ter t'o /011 and "tudent" are re9uired

to conduct re"earche" that re9uire no ethical con"ent

Reflective Commentar

EDUC 318 ender I""ue" in Education +ade +e to 2e +ore fa+iliar 'ith

fe+ini"+ a" 'ell a" the Ne' Fealand education ""te+ I learnt the hi"tor of

fe+ini"+ 'hich "prouted in the 1(@0" I &et to learn a2out the polic of Ne' Fealand

Education and "o+eti+e" co+pare it 'ith Mala"ian education ""te+ Theoreticall

e!er curriculu+ i" de"i&ned to +eet the need" of it" "ta5eholder" The inclu"ion

1/


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e!er &roup re&ardle"" of &ender. ethnic &roup and "ocio econo+ic "tatu" ha" 2een

lined in Ne' Fealand curriculu+ *o'e!er. the i+ple+entation i" of another +atter

Ta5in& thi" cour"e al"o epo"e" +e to the current &ender i""ue" in education

particular to Ne' Fealand a" 'ell a" in &eneral or ea+ple. the i""ue of 2o" and

+inorit &roup li5e Maori 2ein& "hortchan&e in the ""te+. 2ia"ed "e education and

+an +ore The add to + +oti!ation to 2e a &ood and inclu"i!e teacher ;hen

loo5in& throu&h the"e i""ue" fir"tl I need to for+ an opinion a2out the+ 'hether

the are true in + contet or not The per"pecti!e" and opinion of other" e"peciall

the "tudent"6 are i+portant at thi" "ta&e If it i" then I need to addre"" thi" i""ue in +

future peda&o&

Thi" cour"e ha" thou&ht +e to 2e critical 'hen loo5in& at tet" a" the are not

neutral Tet" can 2e +an thin&" a" lon& a" the carr +eanin&" I al"o learnt to

loo5 at certain i""ue" throu&h !ariou" per"pecti!e" for 2etter under"tandin& I tr to

appl 'hat I learnt in thi" cour"e 'hen coductin& + re"earch pro7ect or ea+ple.

"ince tet i" influenced 2 the author6" perception. I tr to 2e careful in epre""in& +

idea" to a!oid un"u2"tantiated clai+" and "tereotpe" 'hen pre"entin& thi" re"earch

to the 'hole cla"" and 'hen 'ritin& it

Conductin& a re"earch pro7ect on &ender i""ue" ha" +ade +e reali"ed that

&ender ine9ualit i" "till do+inant in our "ociet toda M re"earch ha" epo"ed +e

to the 2ia"ed treat+ent that 'o+en recei!e fro+ the +edia e"peciall in realit

"ho'" A" a future teacher. I pla an i+portant role to educate our oun&"ter"

to'ard" chan&e and in thi" contet to educate the+ to 2e +edia 'i"e

13


14/15


References

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T)* At issue#pp ))?)J% Michi&an reenha!en re""

Bro'n. : #/004% Out'it. outla"t. out?flirtH The 'o+en of realit T$ E Cole , - *

Daniel #Ed"%. +eaturin, females* +eminist analyses of media%;a"hin&ton

A+erican "cholo&ical a""ociation

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culture% Oford Blac5'ell u2li"hin& :td

lei". M , :e!en"en. : #roducer"%#/00(%The Bachelor season 15% Tele!i"ion

"erie"Manhattan ABC

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*ol+e". A , ie&el. #roducer"% #/010% #ife Swap $%S%A Season &%Tele!i"ion

"erie" Manhattan ABC

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-ohnn : #roducer% #/00(% Beauty and the ,eek Australia season 1 Tele!i"ion

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Martine>?hephard. I #/00@% /ortrayals of women in prime time reality T)

pro,rams%Unpu2li"hed +a"ter di""ertation. Io'a tate Uni!er"it. Io'a

Mini"tr of Education #/011% -edia literacy Retrie!ed Octo2er @. /011 fro+

httpPP+edia?"tudie"t5ior&n>PTeachin&?+edia?"tudie"PMedia?literac

andretto. . Til"on. -. *ill. . Upton. -. *o'land. R , ar5er. R #/00@%A

colla0orative selfstudy into the development of criticalliteracy practices* a pilot

study%Retrie!ed Octo2er 8. /011 fro+ Teachin& and :earnin& Re"earch

Initiati!e ;e2"ite httpPPtlrior&n>Ppdf"P(/31Qfinalreportpdf

Toth. R. *a"elton. $. DLA&o"tino. :. Dia>. N. Barcello". C. Cohen. A , :e!ine.

#Eecuti!e roducer"% #/010% The real housewives of ew !ersey season "

Tele!i"ion "erie" Ne' Yor5 Bra!o

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Cole , - * Daniel #Ed"%. +eaturin, females* +eminist analyses of media%

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Yea"+in. M , hafin. M #/00(% #omen in reality show* the real portrayal%

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uni!er"itor&P"tudent'or5Pre"earchpro7ect"P+edialiteracPCQ+ediapaperQ

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Documents

The Portrayal of Women in Reality TV Shows